July Inkspiration Day 19- Dr. Tamara Lapsley

 

Dr. Tamara Lapsley

Dr. Tamara Lapsley is an author, speaker, leadership coach, and senior federal executive with more than 20 years of experience leading transformational initiatives, developing high-performing teams, and empowering others to achieve their fullest potential. She is the founder of Elegant Coaching, where she helps women embrace life's transitions, rediscover their purpose, and confidently step into their second act.

A proud military veteran, wife, mother, and lifelong leader, Dr. Lapsley recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by publishing her debut novel, A Daughter. A Mother. A Wife. A Soldier... A WOMAN., the first book in her Women in Uniform series. The novel has earned recognition as an Amazon Hot New Release and continues to inspire readers with its powerful themes of resilience, sisterhood, service, and personal transformation.

Professionally, Dr. Lapsley serves as the Director of Travel Operations in the federal government, where she leads enterprise-wide programs, drives organizational excellence, and mentors future leaders. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is passionate about helping women lead with confidence both personally and professionally.

Whether speaking on podcasts, at conferences, or through coaching, Dr. Lapsley's message is simple yet powerful: it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Through her work, she encourages women to embrace change, heal from life's challenges, and build a legacy rooted in purpose, courage, and faith.

Your story isn't over. Your second act starts now

Get To Know Author Dr. Tamara Lapsley

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What inspired you to write this book, and what message do you hope readers take away from it?

    I was inspired to write this book from my own experiences as a woman navigating multiple roles and responsibilities throughout life. As a daughter, mother, wife, leader, soldier, and woman, I have witnessed firsthand the strength, sacrifices, challenges, and resilience that women demonstrate every day. I wanted to tell a story that honors those experiences while giving voice to women whose journeys often go unseen.

My hope is that readers walk away understanding that they are stronger than they realize. No matter what challenges, disappointments, or transitions they face, they have the power to persevere, heal, and embrace their next chapter with courage and purpose.

Can you tell us about your main character (or favorite character) and what makes them special to you?  
 My favorite character is actually the collective representation of the women in the story because each woman embodies a different aspect of strength, vulnerability, and perseverance. What makes these characters special is that they are real in many ways—they reflect the experiences of countless women who balance service, family, career, relationships, and personal dreams while often carrying invisible burdens.

I believe readers will see pieces of themselves in these characters, which makes their journeys both relatable and meaningful.

What was the most rewarding—and the most challenging—part of writing this book?
    The most rewarding part was knowing that this story could encourage, inspire, and empower women who may be struggling with their own challenges. Hearing readers say, “I saw myself in this story,” has been incredibly fulfilling.

The most challenging part was revisiting some difficult emotions and experiences while writing. Telling authentic stories requires vulnerability, and there were moments when I had to relive painful memories. However, I discovered that writing can also be healing, and those difficult moments ultimately strengthened both the book and me as an author.

If readers could remember just one thing after finishing your book, what would you want it to be?
 I want readers to remember that their story is not over. No matter what life has brought them through, they still have purpose, value, and the ability to create a meaningful next chapter. Challenges may shape us, but they do not define us.


What's next for you? Are you currently working on another book or exciting project that readers can look forward to?
   Yes! I am currently working on the next book in my series, Between Orders and Obligations: How Women Lead, Love, and Survive While Carrying Everything. This book continues exploring the realities women face as they balance leadership, service, family, and personal identity.

In addition to writing, I continue to grow my coaching and speaking platform, Elegant Coaching, where I empower women to embrace their second acts, discover their purpose, and turn life’s challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation.

Follow Dr. Tamara Lapsley on the following platforms:

 

Linktr.ee- Elegantcoaching50
Instagram- Drtlapsley
Facebook- Tamara Lapsley   
TikTok- Dr. T. Lap

Amazon- Dr.Tamara Lapsley

YouTube- ElegantCoaching50

Book Spotlight:

When Jackie, Debra, Carmen, and Tomika join the United States Army, each believes she understands what military life will demand of her.

Jackie is escaping grief and searching for purpose.

Debra is determined to build a better future for her daughter.

Carmen wants to prove she is strong enough to follow in her father’s footsteps.

Tomika is learning to find confidence in a world that constantly questions her worth.

But the Army quickly teaches them that survival requires more than strength.

Through training, relationships, ambition, and betrayal, these women discover the hidden challenges of life in uniform. As their careers take them across the country, their sisterhood becomes the one constant that keeps them grounded.

A Daughter. A Mother. A Wife. A Soldier… A Woman is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and the unbreakable bonds formed between women navigating life in the military.

Perfect for readers who enjoy powerful stories about friendship, leadership, and the untold experiences of women in uniform.

This is Book One in the Women in Uniform Series, and I’m excited to share these stories with the world.